112 



was due not to temperature or change of climate, but was a 

 question of food and habit ; domestic animals were affected 

 more by treatment and food than by heat or cold. Mr. E. 

 Step referred to white and black rabbits being nearly as 

 numerous as the ordinary grey form on Mickleham Downs 

 and on Ranmore Common, and many specimens had been seen 

 at Ashtead and Epsom Commons. Mr. Tugwell endorsed 

 Mr. Step's remarks, and said these white and black rabbits 

 had gone on increasing in numbers during the last eight or 

 ten years ; he also stated that he doubted much whether 

 temperature had anything to do with producing variation 

 in insects, and he thought that any change which took place 

 in the colour, was produced in the larval stage, and was 

 due to the food of the larva, and normal heat and cold would 

 not cause any difference. Mr. Adkin said he was not pre- 

 pared to admit, after carefully considering the conclusions 

 arrived at from Mr. Merrifield's observations, that tempera- 

 ture did not in any way influence colour. Mr. Tutt remarked 

 that, as he understood Mr. Merrifield's theory, excessive cold 

 or excessive heat ought always to produce dark and pale 

 insects respectively ; but Mr. Merrifield went further, and 

 suggested altered shape and markings, which he (Mr. Tutt) 

 could not admit ; besides the hereditary business, he thought 

 that the continual inbreeding tended to produce unhealthy 

 conditions, and therefore the alteration in colour and mark- 

 ings would be due to disease rather than to any other cause, 



Mr. S. Edwards read a paper on the " Papilionidae," which 

 was illustrated by diagrams and Mr. Edward's extensive col- 

 lection of this group. 



APRIL 2T,rd, 1891. 



W. H. Tugwell, Esq., Ph.C, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. E. Sabel was. elected a member. 



Mr. Billups exhibited three cabinet drawers of life his- 

 tories, representing many of the species of Ichneumonidae, 

 bred during the past four years by members of the Society. 

 Also pupae and imago of the very beautiful Cynipid, EiUophus 

 damicornis, Kirby, bred from the larvai of Demas coryli, L., 

 by Mr. J. A. Simes, and remarked that he had called the 

 attention of the Society to this species some six years since, 

 when Mr. T. Williams bred the same species from the same 

 host, as also from Lophopteryx camelina, L. ; Mr. Elisha had 

 since bred it from the larvae of Lithocolletis bremiella, Zell., 

 and L. faginella, Mann. 



Mr. Billups also exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Mansbridge, 



